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10 Mar, 2026
Eastern Cape UDM demands transparency and accountability as IEC probes Buffalo City mayor allegations
Statement by Bulelani Bobotyane, Provincial Secretary of the UDM in the Eastern Cape The United Democratic Movement (UDM) in the Eastern Cape has taken note of media reports indicating that the Executive Mayor of Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, Princess Faku, is allegedly the subject of a matter currently under consideration by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) relating to allegations of misrepresentation and the potential misuse of municipal resources for electoral purposes. The UDM in the Eastern Cape believes that the integrity of South Africa’s democratic and electoral systems must remain beyond reproach. Allegations suggesting the possible use of public resources, municipal programmes, or state platforms to advance partisan political interests are matters that require careful and transparent scrutiny. At the same time, the UDM in the Eastern Cape wishes to emphasise that South Africa’s constitutional framework is founded on the principle that every person is presumed innocent until proven otherwise. It is therefore important that the IEC be allowed to conduct its processes independently, fairly, and without interference so that the facts of the matter may be properly established and the public properly informed. This process must also serve as an opportunity to address persistent concerns about governance and the use of public resources within Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality and, where wrongdoing is found, to ensure that accountability is finally enforced. Public institutions and municipal resources exist to serve communities impartially and in accordance with the law. Any situation that creates the perception that public resources may be used for electoral advantage risks undermining public confidence in governance and in the fairness of democratic competition. These allegations also reinforce longstanding concerns about governance and the use of public resources within Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, concerns that communities and opposition parties have raised repeatedly over time. In such circumstances it is particularly important that public representatives demonstrate the highest standards of ethical leadership, transparency, and accountability. The UDM in the Eastern Cape will continue to monitor this matter closely and supports all lawful and appropriate oversight processes to ensure that accountability is upheld and that the integrity of South Africa’s electoral framework is protected. The people of Buffalo City deserve governance that is transparent, responsible, and firmly grounded in the rule of law.
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26 Feb, 2026
Eastern Cape SOPA2026: Mabuyane’s leadership on trial after year 7
Statement by Bulelani Bobotyane, Provincial Secretary of the UDM in the Eastern Cape The United Democratic Movement (UDM) in the Eastern Cape notes that on 27 February 2026, Premier Oscar Mabuyane will address the province in his seventh year at the helm. Across towns and villages, one hears a recurring sentiment: there was a period in this region’s history when executive authority translated into visible administrative discipline, when decisions were implemented with consistency and consequence management was not optional. That period existed within a different constitutional dispensation and must be understood in its proper historical context. It was not beyond criticism. In this province, what endures in public memory is not nostalgia for past structures, but the perception that governance was firm, coherent and enforceable. After nearly seven years in office, the current African National Congress (ANC) administration cannot dismiss that comparison. It must answer it. Seven years into the Mabuyane administration, the issue is no longer vision. The province has had vision documents, master plans, stimulus funds, growth frontiers and 2030 targets. The issue is executive control and institutional discipline. When the same sectors are re-announced year after year, when projected multipliers are pushed further into the future, and when governance reform deadlines quietly fade from the public record, the pattern reveals not a shortage of ideas, but a shortage of consolidation. After 32 years of uninterrupted ANC governance in this province, fragmentation cannot be blamed on transition or inheritance. It reflects a governing culture that accumulates initiatives faster than it stabilises systems. The Eastern Cape does not lack policy. It lacks conversion. It does not lack plans. It lacks enforcement. Seven years is sufficient time to entrench systems, discipline departments and impose consequence management. When plans multiply but structural indicators remain stubborn, it signals not complexity, but weak executive control. The ANC governs this province, with Premier Mabuyane at its helm. They cannot continue to govern through perpetual projection and recycled ambition. If the plans are sound on paper yet outcomes remain inconsistent, the question is no longer about design. It is about leadership. As the province approaches the 2026 Local Government Elections, SOPA 2026 must do more than defend a record. It must demonstrate that governance is stabilising where citizens experience the state most directly: in municipalities. Voters will not judge performance by presentation in the Chamber, but by functioning taps, maintained roads, disciplined finances and reliable services. In this election cycle, credibility will be earned on the ground. Accountability and delivery The UDM in the Eastern Cape will demand that SOPA2026 move beyond ambition and provide clear evidence of delivery. The people of the Eastern Cape have heard commitments on roads, water infrastructure, housing, health facilities and economic expansion before. This year’s address must account for what has been completed, what remains delayed and what has stalled. The public deserves measurable progress, not repetition. Municipal governance Municipal instability must be confronted honestly. If municipalities required intervention in the past year, the province must report whether those interventions worked. Financial stability, revenue collection, professional administration and consequence management determine whether communities receive services and whether local government can be trusted. Water security Access targets extending toward 2030 cannot substitute for consistent supply today. Communities experience governance through functioning taps, maintained infrastructure and effective wastewater systems. If these remain unreliable, explanations are no longer sufficient. Infrastructure maintenance Development cannot be credible if roads, stormwater systems and municipal assets deteriorate while new projects are announced. Maintenance is not secondary to growth. It is foundational to it. Economic reform and employment Sustainable job creation depends on stable municipalities, reliable infrastructure, clean procurement systems and a predictable regulatory environment. Temporary public employment programmes may offer short-term relief, but they do not replace structural reform. The province must demonstrate that institutional foundations for long-term economic expansion are being strengthened year by year. The National Development Plan’s 2030 horizon does not excuse weak implementation in the present. Governance and accountability Ethics frameworks and oversight mechanisms must translate into visible consequences. Clean governance, professional administration and disciplined public finance management are essential if public trust is to be restored. In 2020, this administration undertook to implement lifestyle audit guidelines by 2022. That deadline has passed. The province has yet to see consistent, transparent reporting on the outcomes of those audits or the consequences that followed. Anti-corruption cannot be rhetorical. It must be enforceable. With the 2026 Local Government Elections fast approaching, this address will be measured not by tone, but by evidence. The people of this province are demanding functional municipalities, reliable services and accountable leadership. In 2026, the UDM in the Eastern Cape will present a credible alternative grounded in administrative discipline, clean governance and service delivery that is felt in every municipality we contest.
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21 Oct, 2025
Gade hides behind matric exams as Eastern Cape education crumbles
Statement by Bulelani Bobotyane, Provincial Secretary of the UDM in the Eastern Cape The United Democratic Movement (UDM) in the Eastern Cape condemns the conduct of Eastern Cape Education MEC Fundile Gade, who attempted to postpone Parliamentary oversight visits under the pretext of matric examinations. This was not a scheduling conflict. It was a blatant attempt to dodge responsibility in the face of damning findings about the provincial department’s failures, including criticism from members of his own party. The Auditor-General has confirmed that the Eastern Cape Provincial Department of Education spent 99.9% of its budget yet achieved only 10% of its infrastructure targets. Even African National Congress (ANC) Members of Parliament were forced to admit that the situation is devastating and called for heads to roll. Instead of welcoming oversight and taking urgent corrective action, MEC Gade’s instinct was to evade scrutiny and hide behind the hard work of matriculants who deserve his full accountability, not excuses. The ANC’s provincial government is effectively pretending to fix education infrastructure while knowing the maths do not add up. Officials admit that the province needs R72 billion to clear its backlog within ten years, yet they budget only R1.8 billion a year. That is less than a quarter of what is required, and even those limited funds fail to deliver. Spending 99.9% of a budget while meeting only 10% of targets is not progress; it is the illusion of governance. If the provincial education department truly spends 99.9% of its budget, the people of this province deserve to know what it is being spent on. Where are the new classrooms, the repaired roofs, the functioning toilets and the rebuilt storm-damaged schools? How can so much money disappear into paperwork, travel and administration while learners sit under leaking prefabs and teachers work without electricity or proper sanitation? This is not a resource problem; it is a leadership and accountability crisis. The timing of the exams does not absolve MEC Gade from appearing before Parliament or explaining how billions have been spent with almost nothing to show for it. Leadership means facing the truth, not running from it. The province’s learners study in prefabricated classrooms, hundreds of schools remain closed or vandalised, and 427 schools still have pit latrine toilets. These are the real emergencies, not the Parliamentary calendar. The UDM in the Eastern Cape welcomes this decision and commends Parliament for standing firm in defence of accountability. Oversight is not a favour to the provincial executive; it is a constitutional duty. The time for excuses is over. The children of the Eastern Cape deserve leadership that works, not officials who hide behind exams and empty audits.
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16 Oct, 2025
Three decades later, the ANC still fails Eastern Cape learners
Statement by Bulelani Bobotyane, Provincial Secretary of the UDM in the Eastern Cape The United Democratic Movement (UDM) in the Eastern Cape condemns the ongoing decay and abandonment of school infrastructure across the province. What we see today is not a sudden crisis but the direct outcome of three decades of neglect under the African National Congress (ANC) government. The ruling party’s failures in planning, oversight and accountability have left thousands of learners without safe and functional schools, while its officials hide behind bureaucracy and empty promises. No one takes responsibility for the hundreds of closed school buildings scattered across the province. Public infrastructure is collapsing while officials pass blame from one department to another. More than a thousand schools have been shut down, many left vandalised and stripped of value, while children in other communities are still learning in structures that are unsafe, overcrowded or falling apart. The tragedy of the Ginsberg Crèche in Qonce, formerly known as King William’s Town, founded by Steve Biko as a living symbol of self-reliance and community dignity, captures the depth of this failure. To allow such a historic and visionary space to decay is an act of utter disrespect, not only to Biko’s legacy but to the children it was meant to serve. A place once built to nurture young minds now lies in ruins, overrun by weeds and indifference. It stands as a monument to how far this province has drifted from its moral duty to protect and educate its children. The UDM in the Eastern Cape calls for the following urgent actions: 1. Eastern Cape Department of Education to conduct a full audit of all closed, abandoned and collapsing schools, publish the findings, and present an infrastructure recovery plan with clear deadlines for refurbishment, reconstruction and security. 2. Provincial Department of Public Works and Infrastructure to take responsibility for maintaining and securing all disused school properties to prevent vandalism, theft and further deterioration. 3. Provincial Treasury to ensure that funds allocated for education infrastructure are ring-fenced and fully spent within the financial year, with public quarterly reports on expenditure and progress. 4. National Department of Basic Education to intervene where provincial capacity has failed through targeted support, technical expertise and oversight to fast-track safe and dignified learning facilities. 5. Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Basic Education to institute a formal inquiry into the collapse and abandonment of public-school infrastructure in the Eastern Cape and demand accountability for wasted funds and stalled projects. 6. Communities and School Governing Bodies to guard against vandalism and theft and insist that local schools and historic educational sites such as the Ginsberg Crèche are restored and protected for future generations. The UDM in the Eastern Cape echoes the call to find constructive and community-driven alternative uses for mothballed school buildings so that these spaces can once again serve public good rather than fall into ruin. No province with such deep educational need can afford to lose even a single classroom to incompetence.
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11 Oct, 2025
Scholar transport chaos a legacy of decades of ANC failure
Scholar transport chaos a legacy of decades of ANC failure Statement by Bulelani Bobotyane, Provincial Secretary of the UDM in the Eastern Cape Years of poor planning and neglect have turned the Eastern Cape’s scholar transport programme into a crisis that now threatens thousands of learners. The decision by the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) to suspend scholar transport from 13 October is the direct consequence of the Eastern Cape government’s continued failure to manage and fund this vital programme. This is not an isolated incident but the cumulative outcome of years of mismanagement under African National Congress (ANC) administrations that have consistently failed to prioritise education in this province. For more than a decade, provincial administration has ignored every warning about late payments, corruption, and systemic underfunding. The situation has now reached breaking point. Between 2022 and 2025 alone, the same problems have repeated year after year: • Operators go unpaid for months, leaving them bankrupt while learners are stranded. • In 2024 alone, 50 000 qualifying pupils were excluded from the programme because of budget shortfalls. • The Makhanda High Court ruled in December 2024 that the Departments of Education and Transport acted unconstitutionally by failing to provide scholar transport to all qualifying learners. • The 2025/2026 provincial budget of R800 million has already collapsed under pressure, with funds exhausted by October and scholar transport once again paralysed. • Investigations have revealed millions wasted on “ghost scholar” contracts while real children are left to walk dangerous distances to school. The right to basic education is immediately realisable under the Constitution. The Eastern Cape provincial government has a direct legal duty to provide safe and reliable transport to learners and cannot hide behind excuses of limited funds or administrative delay. Its repeated failure to comply with court orders and to budget adequately for scholar transport places it in clear violation of the Constitution and in potential contempt of the Makhanda High Court judgment. This ongoing neglect is a betrayal of the province’s learners and a breach of the public trust. The UDM in the Eastern Cape demands decisive provincial implementation to restore this critical programme: 1. The Premier must establish a dedicated Provincial Task Team to oversee full implementation of the Makhanda High Court judgment. 2. The MEC for Finance, Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism, the MEC for Transport and Community Safety, and the MEC for Education must table an emergency adjustment budget to close funding shortfalls and ensure that all payments are made within 30 days. 3. The Department of Transport must publish a transparent list of all verified operators, payment schedules, and outstanding invoices, and must immediately investigate and eliminate the so-called “ghost scholar” contracts that have drained millions from the programme. 4. The Provincial Treasury must ring-fence all scholar transport funds and prevent diversion to other programmes. 5. The Provincial Legislature’s Education and Transport Committees must conduct monthly oversight visits to monitor compliance, investigate allegations of fraud and mismanagement, and report publicly on progress. There can be no excuse for the Eastern Cape provincial government that once again fails its most vulnerable citizens. The children of the Eastern Cape deserve leadership that plans, pays, and delivers. The UDM in the Eastern Cape will continue to hold the provincial administration accountable until every qualifying learner has safe and reliable transport to school, not as a favour but as a right. This crisis is the direct legacy of the ANC’s decades of neglect and poor governance, which have left the province trapped in a cycle of underfunding, corruption, and administrative failure. As a partner in the Government of National Unity (GNU), the UDM in the Eastern Cape calls on Minister of Basic Education, Ms Gwarube, to intervene decisively. The Minister must ensure that the Eastern Cape government complies with the Makhanda High Court judgment and delivers on its obligations to learners and communities. The GNU cannot allow provincial failures to undermine national commitments to education. Minister Gwarube must demand accountability, enforce compliance with court orders, and ensure that public funds allocated for scholar transport are used transparently and efficiently to restore faith in government and uphold the constitutional right to education.
Admin
10 Oct, 2025
31 years later: ANC has bankrupted the Eastern Cape municipalities
Statement by Bulelani Bobotyane, Provincial Secretary of the UDM in the Eastern Cape The United Democratic Movement (UDM) in the Eastern Cape is deeply disturbed by revelations that seven municipalities in the Eastern Cape are on the verge of financial collapse. This is not an isolated administrative failure. It is the product of decades of African National Congress (ANC) misrule that has left local government structures hollow, indebted, and incapable of delivering even the most basic services. The Provincial Treasury’s presentation to Parliament revealed that Makana, Sundays River Valley, Amathole, Raymond Mhlaba, Amahlathi, Walter Sisulu and King Sabata Dalindyebo municipalities will not survive beyond a month without intervention. Only Koukamma has slightly more cash reserves, barely enough for three months. Under ANC governance, 33 out of 39 municipalities are distressed, with only six receiving clean audits in the 2023/24 financial year. The scale of financial recklessness is staggering. Nelson Mandela Bay Metro recorded R22 billion in unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure. Buffalo City Metro recorded R11.6 billion. Amathole District recorded R1.3 billion, OR Tambo District R1.1 billion, and Inxuba Yethemba R910 million. Despite this, more than R300 million in unspent infrastructure funds was returned to the National Treasury. This is an unforgivable betrayal of the people. A province drowning in unemployment and poverty is being robbed not only by corruption but by chronic incompetence. The UDM in the Eastern Cape holds Premier Oscar Mabuyane and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) MEC Zolile Williams politically responsible for the collapse of governance in the province. For years they have been warned about the dire state of municipalities but responded with empty plans and recycled rhetoric. MEC Williams himself has acknowledged that Nelson Mandela Bay accounts for over seventy percent of the province’s R30 billion in irregular expenditure, driven by evergreen contracts that he admits are criminal. Yet there is no visible action, no prosecutions, and no accountability. The rot runs deep. A captured CFO in Sundays River Valley inflated consultancy contracts from R4 million to R38 million. Evergreen contracts in Nelson Mandela Bay have become the feeding trough for politically connected service providers. State departments owe municipalities such as Nelson Mandela Bay more than R208 million in unpaid rates and service charges, proof that even government does not respect local government. It is shocking and unacceptable that national and provincial government departments owe municipalities more than R208 million in unpaid rates and service charges. These are not private companies or delinquent ratepayers. They are organs of the same state that lectures ordinary citizens about paying their municipal accounts. This failure by the state to pay what it owes is an act of internal sabotage. It cripples the very municipalities tasked with delivering water, electricity, sanitation and waste removal to communities. When government departments do not honour their obligations, they drain the lifeblood of local government, its revenue base, and accelerate the collapse of essential services. The UDM in the Eastern Cape finds this behaviour reprehensible and hypocritical. It exposes a culture of impunity within the ANC government where accountability is applied selectively. Citizens are threatened with disconnection for non-payment, while government institutions continue to consume services without consequence. This situation also shows the utter breakdown of intergovernmental cooperation in the Eastern Cape. The Premier and his MECs have allowed a crisis where the left hand of government starves the right. How can municipalities be expected to survive when the very departments that fund them are also their biggest debtors? The UDM in the Eastern Cape is deeply concerned by the recent remarks of Buffalo City Mayor Princess Faku, who told Parliament that her municipality is “neither dysfunctional nor cash-strapped.” This statement is misleading and irresponsible. Both the Provincial Treasury and the Auditor-General have confirmed that Buffalo City incurred R11.6 billion in irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure, and returned unspent infrastructure funds while residents continue to endure failing services. For a mayor to deny this reality shows disregard for the truth and for the daily struggles of the people she serves. It reflects the ANC’s entrenched culture of denial, where leaders protect their image instead of fixing what is broken. The UDM calls on Premier Mabuyane to act against Mayor Faku for misleading Parliament and the public. The people of Buffalo City deserve honesty, accountability and real solutions, not empty political theatre. As a partner in the Government of National Unity (GNU), the UDM in the Eastern Cape believes this crisis demands direct intervention by the National CoGTA Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa. The Minister must immediately: 1. Deploy a national intervention team to the seven municipalities on the brink of collapse, with powers to stabilise finances, strengthen governance, and halt corruption. 2. Oversee forensic investigations into the misuse of funds, fraudulent consultancy contracts, and the R30 billion evergreen contract scandal in Nelson Mandela Bay. 3. Ensure strict consequence management, including suspension and prosecution of accounting officers, councillors and mayors who enabled this rot. 4. Coordinate intergovernmental debt recovery, compelling all government departments to pay what they owe to municipalities. 5. Enforce public transparency and reporting, ensuring that all municipal recovery reports demanded by Parliament are made public within thirty days. 6. Work with National Treasury and the Department of Water and Sanitation to restore critical infrastructure and basic service delivery in the affected municipalities. 7. Hold Premier Mabuyane and MEC Williams politically accountable for years of failed oversight and negligence under their leadership. The UDM in the Eastern Cape also reminds the ANC, as a partner in the GNU, that it carries the greatest responsibility for this crisis. Its national leadership must urgently call its counterparts in the province and municipalities to order. The continued collapse of governance in the Eastern Cape is not just a local embarrassment; it undermines the credibility of the GNU’s commitment to clean, accountable and effective government. If the ANC is sincere about renewal, it must start by cleaning its own house in this province. For thirty-one years, the ANC has turned the Eastern Cape into a case study of corruption and decay. The people deserve better. They deserve leaders who act, not talk, who serve, not steal. The UDM in the Eastern Cape calls on all honest public servants, civil society and communities to rally behind the call for accountability and renewal.
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10 Sep, 2025
UDM BCMM on the Metro’s collapsing water and sanitation infrastructure
Statement by Anele Skoti, United Democratic Movement Councillor and Whip in Buffalo City Metropolitan Council The United Democratic Movement (UDM) in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM) is gravely alarmed by the recent revelations that only four of the Metro’s fifteen wastewater treatment plants are fully operational, with the rest either vandalised, unlicensed, or out of service. The disclosure by the municipal manager that more than R10 billion will be needed over the next six years to rescue the metro’s failing water and sanitation systems confirms what residents have known and lived with for years: decades of neglect, poor maintenance, and mismanagement have pushed the metro into a full-blown crisis. The UDM in the BCMM will not ignore the devastating reality confronting communities. Raw sewage running through streets and homes, foul odours in the air, and persistent health risks have become an everyday experience in many neighbourhoods. This is not only a humanitarian and environmental disaster but also a direct violation of the constitutional right to access clean water and a healthy environment. The UDM in the BCMM notes the municipal manager’s proposal to seek private sector investment and public-private partnerships (PPPs). While innovative financing models must be considered, PPPs must not become a back door to privatisation or a mechanism for elites to enrich themselves while residents continue to suffer. Any partnership must be transparent, carefully structured, and rooted in protecting water and sanitation as a public good accessible to all. The truth is that Buffalo City cannot solve this crisis on its own. National and provincial government must intervene decisively with financial, technical, and security support. Without this, the city risks further collapse, with dire consequences for residents, businesses, and future investment. The UDM in the BCMM calls for: • An immediate emergency plan to repair and secure wastewater treatment plants and sewage pump stations. • The ringfencing of infrastructure budgets to ensure that money allocated is spent only on water and sanitation. • Clear accountability for the decades of mismanagement and neglect that led to this collapse. • Transparent and inclusive public engagement on any proposed PPP arrangements. Buffalo City deserves better than this steady decline into dysfunction. The UDM in the BCMM will continue to hold the municipality and national government accountable until residents enjoy safe, reliable, and dignified water and sanitation services.
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10 Sep, 2025
Massive job losses in the Eastern Cape: Aspen Pharmacare joins the litany
Statement by Bulelani Bobotyane, Provincial Secretary of the UDM in the Eastern Cape The United Democratic Movement (UDM) in the Eastern Cape notes with deep concern the announcement by Aspen Pharmacare that more than 900 employees face retrenchment following a fresh Section 189A notice served on unions. This comes on the back of 208 jobs already lost over the past year, including the closure of its eyedrops production facility in Gqeberha, and forms part of a growing trend of mass retrenchments across key sectors of our economy. The UDM in the Eastern Cape sympathises with the affected workers and their families. We are acutely aware of the devastating impact that job losses have on households, communities, and the country at large, especially in a context where South Africa is already in the grip of a worsening unemployment crisis. Aspen, as one of the leading pharmaceutical companies on the continent, has historically played a critical role in job creation, industrial development, and the manufacture of essential medicines. It is therefore disheartening to witness a contraction in its workforce of this magnitude. We call on Aspen to engage with unions and workers in good faith, to ensure that the consultation process is transparent, fair, and rooted in the principles of social justice. Workers must not be treated as disposable commodities in the pursuit of operational efficiency. We also urge Aspen to explore alternatives to retrenchment, including re-skilling, redeployment, and restructuring measures that can preserve as many jobs as possible. The crisis at Aspen is not an isolated case. Across South Africa, major employers are shedding jobs at an alarming rate. Goodyear has already closed its Kariega factory, resulting in 900 job losses, while ArcelorMittal, Glencore, and Ford have also announced significant cuts. These developments point to a broader pattern of industrial decline and economic stagnation, which demands urgent intervention from government and a coordinated response from all social partners. Government cannot continue to sit on its hands while South Africans lose their jobs in waves of Section 189 notices. The UDM calls on the Department of Employment and Labour, as well as the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, to urgently intervene. We need decisive leadership to: • Protect existing jobs in strategic industries such as pharmaceuticals and manufacturing. • Support companies facing operational and compliance challenges with incentives and relief mechanisms, where appropriate. • Facilitate long-term industrial strategies that strengthen South Africa’s manufacturing capacity and competitiveness. The UDM in the Eastern Cape further demands accountability regarding the circumstances that led to the loss of Aspen’s eyedrops production lines, including the findings of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Regulatory compliance and quality assurance failures must not be allowed to undermine local jobs or compromise South Africa’s standing in global markets. South Africa (and the Eastern Cape in particular) cannot continue to bleed jobs at this scale without a decisive response. The UDM in the Eastern Cape demands that government urgently declare job losses a national emergency and present a clear plan to stem the tide of retrenchments sweeping through every sector. Empty promises and piecemeal interventions can no longer suffice; workers and their families need action, not platitudes.
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21 May, 2025
NMB MPAC Chair Luxolo Namette’s first session as chair shows integrity of leadership
Statement by Bulelani Bobotyane, Provincial Secretary of the UDM in the Eastern Cape The United Democratic Movement (UDM) in the Eastern Cape expresses its full support and appreciation for the principled leadership demonstrated by Councillor Luxolo Namette, Chairperson of the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC) in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality. In the face of serious concerns regarding the irregular payment of R3.7 million to politically deployed individuals between 2013 and 2017, Cllr Namette has steered the committee with integrity and fairness, ensuring that the matter is handled in accordance with due process. His decision to defer the item pending a legal opinion demonstrates a commitment to responsible governance, accountability, and the rule of law. As the UDM in the Eastern Cape, we believe that public funds must be safeguarded, and any allegations of irregular expenditure thoroughly investigated. We commend Cllr Namette for prioritising transparency and due diligence, and for upholding the principles of clean governance that the UDM holds dear. We further call on the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality to expedite the legal opinion process and ensure that all measures are taken to prevent a repeat of such irregularities. The citizens of this metro deserve nothing less than a government that acts in their best interest and protects the public purse. Cllr Namette’s leadership reflects the UDM’s commitment to ethical public service and the strengthening of institutions that hold power to account.
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14 May, 2025
UDM BCMM expresses concern over 3-day water outage in Mdantsane
Statement by Anele Skoti, United Democratic Movement Councillor and Whip in Buffalo City Metropolitan Council The United Democratic Movement (UDM) in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM) deeply concerned about the ongoing water outage in the Mdantsane area, which has now persisted for more than three days. This situation has caused immense frustration and hardship for residents who rely on consistent water supply for their daily needs, sanitation, and well-being. Despite numerous enquiries and growing public concern, there has been no official explanation provided to residents. After consulting with the Ward Councillor, we were informed that the matter is still under investigation. Alarmingly, it has also been confirmed that councillors themselves have not been briefed or updated by the relevant authorities regarding the cause or expected duration of the outage. This lack of transparency and communication is unacceptable. Access to water is a basic human right, and the failure to provide timely information or implement contingency plans reflects poorly on those responsible for service delivery in the area. The UDM BCMM demands that the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality urgently clarify the cause of the disruption, provide an estimated time for restoration, and ensure that emergency relief measures, such as water tankers, are rolled out without delay. Communities cannot be left in the dark while enduring such a critical service interruption.
Admin
02 May, 2025
UDM Eastern Cape calls for accountability, equity, and safety in response to Eastern Cape developments
Statement by Bulelani Bobotyane, Provincial Secretary of the UDM in the Eastern Cape The United Democratic Movement (UDM) in the Eastern Cape is deeply concerned by recent developments across the province, particularly in the education, economic, and energy sectors. While we welcome progressive initiatives that promise growth and transformation, we will not be silent when the vulnerable are forgotten or exploited. 1. The #JusticeForCwecwe campaign has laid bare the failure of our education system to protect our children. The UDM in the Eastern Cape demands that the provincial government not only close non-compliant schools but urgently implement structural safeguards, including a Provincial School Safety Oversight Task Team and school-based trauma units. Child safety is not negotiable. 2. We note the Premier Oscar Mabuyane’s international investment drive to boost the oceans economy. Mabuyane announced that the province would soon visit countries such as Italy and Greece, with the intention to attract investors who could partner with the province “to unlock jobs in our oceans economy”. Mabuyane stated that the oceans economy represents a new growth frontier that, when combined with meaningful transformation, can unlock new economic value chains and opportunities for the people of the Eastern Cape. He also announced that the national government has started the process of officially gazetting small harbours in Hamburg, within the Ngqushwa Municipality, and in Mbizana. While the potential is undeniable, the UDM insists on transparency in all agreements, enforceable 30% local ownership, and the publication of all memoranda of understanding (MOUs). Our coastal communities must not be spectators in an economy built on their heritage. 3. Regarding the R105 billion Hive Green Ammonia Project at Coega (the project by Hive Energy UK at the Coega Special Economic Zone (SEZ) outside Gqeberha is the biggest investment of its kind in the world), the UDM in the Eastern Cape welcomes the shift toward sustainable energy. However, we demand full disclosure of the project’s local employment commitments, environmental compliance, and community development plans. The green economy must not become another exclusionary space. As the voice of reason and accountability, the UDM in the Eastern Cape will continue to fight for an inclusive Eastern Cape - one that places people before profits, safety before slogans, and transparency above all.
Admin
29 Apr, 2025
UDM Nelson Mandela Bay condemns the brazen theft of municipal property in Deal Party
Statement by Luxolo Namette, UDM councillor in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality and Deputy Chairperson of the UDM in the Eastern Cape The United Democratic Movement (UDM) Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality condemns the shocking robbery that took place at a municipal depot in Deal Party, where armed criminals stole a truckload of tyres intended for public service vehicles. This audacious act of criminality, which occurred on Sunday night, is a clear sign of the growing lawlessness and the alarming deterioration of security measures at municipal facilities. It is unacceptable that public assets, which are meant to serve our communities, can be so easily stolen while the authorities fail to ensure their protection. The UDM wishes to commend the security guards who, despite being held at gunpoint, managed to promptly report the incident. However, this robbery raises serious questions about the effectiveness of the security arrangements at the depot. The municipality must explain what preventative measures were in place to protect these valuable assets, how armed criminals were able to access the premises so easily, and what immediate steps are being taken to recover the stolen goods and apprehend the perpetrators. We further demand that a full audit of municipal assets across all storage facilities be conducted to determine whether there have been other unreported incidents of theft. The public has a right to know the full extent of the losses and what actions are being taken to prevent any further incidents. The UDM calls on the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality to urgently review and strengthen its security protocols across all its facilities. Stronger safeguards must be implemented without delay to protect public property. We also call on the police to prioritise this investigation and bring the culprits to justice swiftly. The theft of public resources cannot become the norm. Municipal leaders must act decisively to restore public confidence and to ensure that the facilities and resources meant for the service of the people are not turned into easy targets for criminal elements.
Admin
24 Apr, 2025
UDM Eastern Cape shocked by sexual abuse cases in our schools; tougher laws and real accountability needed
Statement by Bulelani Bobotyane, Provincial Secretary of the UDM in the Eastern Cape The United Democratic Movement (UDM) in the Eastern Cape is shocked and angered by reports that nearly 30 educators in the Eastern Cape including five principals and two deputy principals, have been implicated in sexual offences involving learners in just the past year. This includes cases of sexual harassment, sexual assault and inappropriate relationships with pupils, many of whom are minors. This is a disgrace and a betrayal of trust by those meant to educate and protect our children. Schools should be safe places for learning and growth, not hunting grounds for sexual predators. The UDM in the Eastern Cape strongly believes that dismissal is not enough, there must be harsher punishments for perpetrators of such crimes. We are calling for urgent legislation that enforces criminal charges, longer prison sentences and permanent blacklisting of any educator or school staff member found guilty of sexual abuse or misconduct. Predators should never be allowed to work with children again, not in schools, not anywhere. It is unacceptable that some educators simply walk away with written warnings, short suspensions or salary deductions. Even more disturbing is that some cases are being withdrawn because victims, often traumatised children are too scared to testify, resulting in abusers escaping justice. We welcome the report by Education MEC Fundile Gade to the Bhisho Legislature, but we demand that this not be the end, the department must work hand in hand with SAPS, the Department of Justice and social workers to ensure every victim is supported and every perpetrator is brought to book. We also urge the South African Council for Educators (SACE) to act decisively in cancelling the registration of these individuals so they can never return to the profession. It is time that we say enough is enough. This is not just a school issue, it is a national crisis. A system that delays justice or allows abusers to slip through the cracks is complicit in harming children. The UDM in the Eastern Cape is committed to defending the rights and dignity of learners across our province. We will continue to advocate for a school environment where trust is protected, justice is swift, and survivors are never left to suffer in silence. This crisis demands bold and urgent action; not only from the department but from society as a whole. Our children deserve better, and we will not rest until the full weight of the law protects them.
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18 Apr, 2025
UDM Nelson Mandela Bay calls for accountability and transparency after R53 million flood repair tender irregularities
Statement by Luxolo Namette, UDM councillor in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality and Deputy Chairperson of the UDM in the Eastern Cape The United Democratic Movement (UDM) Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality is gravely concerned by the explosive revelations regarding alleged misconduct by senior officials of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, as detailed in a memorandum by the municipality’s former Acting City Manager, Mr Sizwe Mvunelwa. The memorandum apparently outlines a troubling sequence of events suggesting that seven senior officials may have misled the Office of the City Manager and deliberately bypassed valid contracts in order to irregularly award new flood repair projects worth R53 million. This, despite the existence of properly procured service providers already under contract with the municipality. This conduct not only undermines the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA), but it also exposes the Municipality to serious legal risks, potential withdrawal of disaster relief funding, and irreparable damage to the communities of KwaNobuhle, Kariega, and Kwazakhele, who continue to suffer the consequences of the devastating floods without timely intervention. The allegations include: • Possible collusion to subvert procurement procedures; • Recommending the appointment of companies without valid tax clearance certificates; • Issuing appointment letters to companies in violation of legal requirements; • Concealing critical information from incoming leadership to influence decision-making. Such actions, if proven, represent a gross dereliction of duty and a betrayal of public trust. The UDM fully supports the call for this matter to be referred to independent law enforcement agencies, such as the Hawks or the Special Investigating Unit, for a thorough and impartial investigation. We further call for: • The immediate suspension of all officials implicated in the memorandum, pending the outcome of investigations. • A full audit of the tender processes related to the R53 million flood relief funding. • The reversal of all irregularly issued contracts and reinstatement of the original contractors appointed under the valid triennial agreement. • Assurance from the municipality that service delivery in the affected communities will not be compromised due to internal administrative failures. The UDM maintains that the integrity of public institutions must be upheld at all costs. We will continue to monitor this situation closely and demand accountability for those who compromise the rule of law and the needs of the people for personal or political gain.
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10 Apr, 2025
Mixed Eastern Cape audit results show a government still failing the people
Statement by Bulelani Bobotyane, Provincial Secretary of the UDM in the Eastern Cape The United Democratic Movement (UDM) in the Eastern Cape notes the latest audit outcomes for the Eastern Cape government presented by the Auditor-General’s Office with serious concern. While the province has shown some progress in financial reporting, the core issues of poor planning, weak governance and lack of service delivery remain deeply troubling. According to the Auditor-General’s update to the National Council of Province's Select Committee on Finance, the number of clean audits in the Eastern Cape improved from five in 2019/20 to twelve in 2022/23. However, this has now dropped to nine clean audits in 2023/24, a clear sign of regression. It is unacceptable that key departments like Health and Education continue to receive qualified audits year after year. These departments are meant to deliver the most basic and important services to our people. The Education Department still battles to account for school assets, while the Health Department cannot properly report on money it may owe. How can we trust such departments to serve our communities? Even the Office of the Premier and the Eastern Cape Legislature have backslid in their audit outcomes. This shows poor leadership and weak accountability at the highest levels of provincial government. Many departments submitted performance reports full of errors and could not back up their so-called achievements with proper data. The UDM is also alarmed by the shocking levels of wasteful and irregular spending. In the 2023/24 financial year alone, the province recorded: • R467 million in unauthorised expenditure • R2.7 billion in irregular expenditure • R148 million in fruitless and wasteful spending. These figures represent a total disregard for public funds at a time when our people are suffering without proper healthcare, education, roads and jobs. The Transport Department’s scholar transport system which could help so many rural learners, remains under-utilised. Projects are delayed, money is paid for work not done and finished projects are often left unused. These are not just audit problems; they are service delivery failures. Our children can’t read because early childhood development targets are not met. Rural development remains just a slogan because departments fail to measure progress or complete evaluations. The UDM demands: • Full accountability for departments and individuals responsible for poor performance and misuse of funds • A clear plan to fix the failures in the Health and Education Departments. • Immediate action from the Premier to strengthen governance and service delivery across all departments. • Transparency in dealing with the R197 million in financial losses due to material irregularities. The Eastern Cape people deserve better than empty reports and broken promises. The UDM in the Eastern Cape will continue to be a strong voice for the communities being failed by this government.
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01 Apr, 2025
UDM victory: Buffalo City exposed over
Statement by Anele Skoti, United Democratic Movement Councillor and Whip in Buffalo City Metropolitan Council The United Democratic Movement (UDM) in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM) welcomes the long-overdue accountability being demanded from BCMM bosses over the shocking mismanagement of public funds in the Mdantsane Swimming Pool project, which we have dubbed the "money pool". For years, the UDM has been at the forefront of exposing this scandal. Our party has conducted multiple site visits, raised concerns over the wasteful expenditure and consistently pushed for transparency. The recent grilling of BCMM officials by Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) confirms what we have been saying all along that millions of Rands have been looted while the community remains without a functioning swimming pool. The forensic report, which BCMM leaders attempted to suppress, reveals shocking details: • Over R56.9 million spent on the project between 2012 and 2024 with little progress. • An additional R14.5 million proposed for rehabilitation and completion, bringing the total to over R71 million. • More than 60 companies, some linked to BCMM officials, received payments. • R13.7 million paid to 46 service providers who were not involved in the project. Despite this damning evidence, BCMM leaders, including Mayor Princess Faku, have failed to take responsibility. The decision to withhold the forensic report under the pretext of an ongoing Hawks (Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation) investigation was a blatant attempt to protect those implicated in corruption. The UDM applauds Scopa’s demand that the report be tabled urgently and handed over to both the Hawks and the Special Investigating Unit. The UDM will not rest until those responsible for this financial disaster are held accountable. We demand immediate action against corrupt officials, full disclosure of the forensic report to the public, and an end to the culture of looting that has crippled service delivery in BCMM. Mdantsane. Buffalo City residents deserve better.
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29 Mar, 2025
UDM Eastern Cape calls for justice for Cwecwe and accountability in schools
Statement by Bulelani Bobotyane, Provincial Secretary of the UDM in the Eastern Cape The United Democratic Movement (UDM) in the Eastern Cape is outraged by the tragic case of Cwecwe, a seven-year-old child from Matatiele, who was allegedly raped while under the care of Bergview College. It is deeply concerning that, despite medical confirmation of the assault, no arrests have been made. We extend our full support to Cwecwe and her family during this traumatic time. We commend the Department of Education for its decision to deregister Bergview College, but this is only the first step. The failure to protect a child within an educational institution reflects a deeper crisis in our schools. We demand urgent action from the South African Police Service (SAPS) to expedite the investigation and ensure that justice is served. Law enforcement agencies cannot continue to fail victims, especially vulnerable children. We also call on Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube to strengthen safety measures in schools to prevent such incidents from ever happening again. Furthermore, the UDM in the Eastern Cape urges government to: 1. Fast-track the arrest and prosecute those responsible for this heinous crime. 2. Review safety policies in schools to ensure that all children are protected while in the care of educational institutions. 3. Provide psychological and social support to Cwecwe and her family to help them recover from this traumatic ordeal. We will not stand by while the most vulnerable in our society suffer due to negligence and lack of accountability. The UDM will closely monitor this case and push for justice to prevail. #JusticeForCwecwe
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18 Mar, 2025
Nesethu Rawuzela: UDM Eastern Cape condemns GBV and calls for justice for victims
Statement by Bulelani Bobotyane, Provincial Secretary of the UDM in the Eastern Cape The United Democratic Movement (UDM) in the Eastern Cape is deeply saddened and outraged by the tragic murder of Nesethu Rawuzela, a young nurse from Qumbu, Eastern Cape, who was allegedly assaulted by her boyfriend, leading to her untimely death. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the Rawuzela family, her colleagues, and everyone affected by this senseless act of violence. No family should have to endure such pain and loss. Gender-based violence (GBV) continues to plague our society, with women and children bearing the brunt of these heinous crimes. The recent incidents in the OR Tambo district, including the case of a 32-year-old man accused of murdering his 24-year-old wife in Nkonkweni, Qumbu, highlight the urgent need for greater interventions to protect the most vulnerable members of our communities. We remain steadfast in our commitment to the fight against GBV and we call upon law enforcement agencies and the justice system to ensure that perpetrators face the full might of the law. There must be no room for impunity. Justice must be swift, decisive, and uncompromising in dealing with those who violate the rights and dignity of others. The UDM in the Eastern Cape also urge government institutions, civil society, and communities to work together in strengthening GBV awareness, support systems for survivors, and proactive interventions that will curb these atrocities before they occur. Women must feel safe in their homes, workplaces, and public spaces without fear of being attacked by those who claim to love them. The UDM in the Eastern Cape, together with its youth and women’s structures, the United Democratic Students’ Movement (UDESMO) and the United Democratic Movement Women’s Organisation (UDEMWO), will not remain silent while women continue to suffer. We will be at the forefront of advocating for policies and initiatives that address the root causes of GBV while supporting survivors and their families. To show solidarity with the family of the deceased, UDM public representatives, along with members of UDESMO and UDEMWO, will be present at the Tsolo Magistrate’s Court tomorrow to support the Nesethu Rawuzela’s loved ones and demand justice. The UDM stands firm in ensuring that this case is not just another statistic but a turning point in the fight against gender-based violence. To the Rawuzela family and all those who have lost loved ones to GBV, we stand with you in your pain. The UDM will not rest until real change is achieved, and justice prevails.
